SPOKANE, Wash. - A surprise run to within one game of the NCAA Division III National Tournament ended for the George Fox University Bruins in a 97-75 loss to the 5th-ranked Whitworth University Pirates in the Northwest Conference men's basketball Tournament championship game Saturday night here at the Whitworth Fieldhouse.

Whitworth improved to 25-2, the second-most wins in school history, while increasing the school-record winning streak to 24 in a row. The Bucs' streak is the longest active one in NCAA men's basketball at any level.  George Fox, picked to finish seventh in the NWC pre-season coaches' poll, instead came in third and stunned Linfield College on the road Thursday before running into a record-tying three-point performance by the Pirates that ended the Bruins' season at 13-14.  It was only the Bruins' second appearance in the NWC Tournament since joining the conference in 1995.

The teams traded leads over the first six minutes as both the Bruins and Pirates came out on fire. Bo Gregg's layup gave Whitworth an early 13-8 lead, but George Fox fought back to go up 14-13 on a layup by Evan Atwater.  Alex Stockner scored inside to give the Bruins their final lead of the game at 18-16 with 13:40 to play in the half.

Whitworth then took control, going on an 18-2 run over the next six-and-a-half minutes to open up a 34-20 lead.  Clay Gebbers started the rally with consecutive three-pointers and ended it with another. The Pirates would eventually take a 48-27 lead on a three-pointer by Wade Gebbers before heading into halftime with a 50-36 advantage.

Jack Martin hit three free throws early in the second half to get George Fox back within 59-45. After the Bucs appeared to be pulling away, the Bruins made one more mini-run to get within 69-54 on a three-pointer by Stockner with 12:27 to go, but they would get no closer.  Gregg hit a long three for an 80-58 Pirate lead, then Wade Gebbers hit another trey for Whitworth's largest lead of the game, 86-60, with 7:29 to go.

The Pirates blistered the nets for 17 three-pointers, tying a school record that was originally set in the first round of the NAIA Division II tournament in 1996. Whitworth shot .548 (17-31) from three-point range and .524 (33-63) overall, while George Fox connected on .444 (24-54) from the floor and .370 (10-27) from long range.

Stockner led George Fox with a game-high 25 points, making 5-9 from three-point range.  Martin contributed 14 points and led all players with six assists. Atwater finished with 10 points.  Stockner and Martin were also the Bruins' top rebounders with five apiece.

Gregg led Whitworth with 21 points, while Eric Beal added 19 points and five assists.  Clay Gebbers had a career-high 17 points, and NWC Player of the Year Nate Montgomery finished with 16 points and nine rebounds, leading Whitworth to a 32-21 edge in the boards.  Wade Gebbers added 14 points to round out five Bucs in double figures.

Whitworth will find out when and where it will play in the NCAA Division III Tournament when the brackets are announced on Monday morning. The Pirates will be making their fourth straight NCAA Division III appearance and fifth all time.